Thankfully I manage to run fast enough in races to escape the inattentions of Ipod warriors, Dj's, eaters and drinkers, HR broadcasters and those 'joined at the hips' types having a 'shared experience'.

You sound like one of these really hospitable types.

People running with each other for a bit of company and support. How very dare they?

No problem with people running together, but please could they run in single file for the first mile of a race so I don't hit a wall of 4 slow runners a few hundred metres into a race. Or if they could all start near the back of the field, that would be great!

I wear my MP3 player so that I can listen to some banging tunez as I run through the countryside on my long runs. It helps to keep me motivated you see. Then after the run there is nothing I like better than to unwind in front of the TV watching Countryfile, and listening to my MP3 playing Tranquility albums of relaxing sounds of nature.

MP3 for cyclists is stupidly dangerous and you take your life in your own hands.

Using them in races is also something I find odd, and selfish.

But runners wearing headfones on the street? Where's the problem in that?

Way more dangerous is those "all the gear no idea" types who go out running at night, kitted up in all black trendy gear.

same as for a bike mate you can't hear whats going around you properly There could be car's pulling out of driveways or a mum shouting watch out as her rugrat tries to rugby tackle you. If your off the pavement and on open fields/paths thats different and even i do that sometimes. But like I said was just me Daily Mail esh rant.

It's not even an argument that cyclists wearing headfones is more dangerous than a runner on a pavement.

Think of the higher speeds involved, split second decisions to make. Get it slightly wrong, or be distracted, and you're history.

Headfones become pretty essential when you're racking up higher mileage, unless you're some machine of a runner.

Thankfully I manage to run fast enough in races to escape the inattentions of Ipod warriors, Dj's, eaters and drinkers, HR broadcasters and those 'joined at the hips' types having a 'shared experience'.

Ric, I had a proud record of never losing to someone wearing headfones, until that strange chap from your club beat me in an XC last year.

MP3 for cyclists is stupidly dangerous and you take your life in your own hands.

Using them in races is also something I find odd, and selfish.

But runners wearing headfones on the street? Where's the problem in that?

Way more dangerous is those "all the gear no idea" types who go out running at night, kitted up in all black trendy gear.

same as for a bike mate you can't hear whats going around you properly There could be car's pulling out of driveways or a mum shouting watch out as her rugrat tries to rugby tackle you. If your off the pavement and on open fields/paths thats different and even i do that sometimes. But like I said was just me Daily Mail esh rant.

It's not even an argument that cyclists wearing headfones is more dangerous than a runner on a pavement.

Think of the higher speeds involved, split second decisions to make. Get it slightly wrong, or be distracted, and you're history.

Headfones become pretty essential when you're racking up higher mileage, unless you're some machine of a runner.

stevie G called me a machine of a runner....best compliment i have ever had

Totally down to personal preference. Obviously I'm a machine of a runner anyway but I just don't like the idea of running with things in/on my ears. Probably some combination of sweat/bouncing around/carrying things/being aware of surroundings, etc., I dunno, but it's certainly not a function of how long I'm running for. And yet I'm an avid MP3 listener when I'm walking. When I'm running, the internal jukebox is constantly on.

Each to their own. Clearly, many of the races that ban the use of MP3 players do it for the reason that some will always choose to have the volume turned up to 11 while listening to Death Metal or the strangled cat-esque tones of Justin Bieber or, say, Coldplay.

It is down to personal preference and so long as it does not comprimise safety, I do not see what the argument is. There do seem to be some "Running Facists" in this thread. I say it's good to have a plurality of views but not where it is expressed as a "this is right and that is wrong/get out of my way slow pathetic people" etc - that kind of attitude is as dangerous as what they suggest are the dangers of wearing an MP3 player in my view.

I wear an MP3 player pretty much all the time while running. I find it sometimes comforting and at others inspiring; I tend to listen to podcasts on longer runs for company and music on shorter runs. I don't have it on very loud and can hear what's going on around me. If that's being unsafe and irresponsible, then apologies for my indiscretion...but my Sansa Clip will still be with me at Parkrun in the morning and on my long run on Sunday.

I agree with training its totally up to the individual................in a race then its up to teh race organisers...........if they say no then respect it...it they say your choice then thats your choice and everyone should respect each others choices.i did try and tell someone on an ultra once that they were going the wrong way ...but they had earphones on and failed to hear my somewhat loud bellow............never mind...........i'm sure they enjoyed the extra miles

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